(Gyeongchun Palace, Songak)

~Yo's POV~

Moongong had gone to sleep early today. My lady wife must be exhausted for it had been a long day. I dismissed the nursemaids and personally put my infant daughter Younggi to sleep. She was only a couple of months older than her cousins, my 9th brother Won's sons. I knew that Moongong's health had not completely recovered after a difficult labor that brought Younggi into this world. It wasn't even that tough when she gave birth to our first child, a son, Woongdo, two years ago. When the court physician told me and Moongong that it was unlikely that she would survive giving birth a third time, she and I had grown more distant from each other. It was not because I was displeased that she would not be able to give me any more children; in fact she was more frustrated by that than I was. At the moment I was quite content with having a son and a daughter. But it wouldn't suffice for her. She loved our children, but to a certain extent, they were her bargaining chips and her family's hold over me. We didn't marry out of love, although we had a cordial relationship. It was her father, Lord Park, the Vice Chancellor, who orchestrated the marriage between us. He was an ambitious man, as wily as a fox, and marrying off his daughter to me had meant that he had confidence that I'd be the one to ultimately claim the throne, and make his daughter the Queen, even though right now I was not the Crown Prince. Indeed, with the support of the Park family, and that of my uncle Shikryeom, plus my mother's Yu family's backing, I had a very strong chance of becoming the next King. My eldest brother Mu was in the way, and I was certain that at least two of my younger brothers were also after the throne, so I had to wait for the right timing to strike.

I put Woongdo to sleep as well, and proceeded to my own study, where my second wife Sinye was waiting for me. Granted, Moongong hated Sinye's presence as second wives were always a threat to first wives, but with Sinye it was different. She and I were only husband and wife in name, not in deed and never in bed. Although Moongong was unbeknownst to this, and I thought it would be better to keep it that way.

Sinye and I got into a marriage that was of an utterly different nature than the one I shared with Moongong. Sinye and I were never in love with each other, but it was not a politically or socially beneficial marriage either, as she did not come from an aristocratic family like Moongong did. Yet we met under very special circumstances and I often wondered if it was truly a coincidence or destiny.

Sinye was not as common as the maids in my residence, but she was not awfully rich either. Her parents were merchants, but that was no excuse for how they treated her like she was a product to be bartered off and sold. It was a really ordinary day when I was on my carriage and roaming the streets of a small town. I was only outside the palace since my father the King had given me orders to travel to a military quarter to check on the logistics, supplies, and operations, then report to His Majesty, a relatively simple mission. Just the usual, nothing eventful. I had already concluded my visit and was already on my way back home. Originally I did not have to take a route that crossed the town that Sinye was from, but I'd got bored of traveling through mountains and forests so I told the driver to take an alternative path. It was this random decision, made out of boredom two years ago, that had swerved me in the direction of Sinye, and had led me to meet a woman that would change my life indelibly.

When my carriage passed through the busy streets, people were supposed to make way. But when they didn't do that, something bad had to be happening. One of the guards in my retinue had informed me that there seemed to be a blockade because a girl was supposed to be getting married as per her parents' arrangements, and she was all dressed up for the supposedly merry occasion already, but she was refusing to enter into this marriage that she did not ask for.

I was so curious. I had never seen a female so defiant. I knew, I just knew, that this girl had to be something else. I had to see for myself what was happening. I stepped out of the carriage and paced, steadily and calmly, to the source of the commotion. I was not focused on the bows that the townspeople sent my way, as a young woman's protests had caught my attention, her voice loud and clear. She was openly defending her rights to choose who to marry!

My first reaction was to frown in displeasure and even disgust that someone could have such disregard for the rules of our society. Rights?! None of us had any say in who to marry. It was always, always our parents' decision, and solely theirs. We ought to be obedient and respect their wishes, because our parents knew better and they'd only want the best for us. That was what I was taught as I grew up. I didn't utter a single word of complaint when my parents had announced to me that I was to take Lord Park's daughter to wife. It was my duty as their children to comply with their commands, just as it was my duty as a Prince to take, as my first wife, a woman of a befitting rank, and have children by her to carry on the royal bloodline. I did my duty and took pride in that.

However, as I listened to this girl protest and defy her parents outwardly, as she vehemently refused to submit her autonomy and sexuality to any man, her words began to make sense to me. I never thought they would, but they did. Her cause, her beliefs, what she stood for and with such conviction — it was not only impressive; it was admirable. I never, ever thought that as a Prince, highborn and dignified, I would ever be impressed by the spirits of a common girl. But I harbored a strong sense of respect toward her for standing up for herself, even if every single thing I'd learned about life at the palace was screaming at me at the back of my mind that this wasn't supposed to be how a woman should be acting. Her voice, one of independence and strength, had after a while drowned out the voices in my head that emphasized the social norms and roles we were expected to play. She was taking control of her own life, asserting that control, and she'd let nobody take it away from her. Even though all those around her were trying to persuade her, pleading and begging, to do as her parents had told her to, but she simply would not yield, and instead turned the tables by demanding respect as a person. At first I thought she ought to be disgraced for her behavior, but now I was beginning to think that she ought to be praised for defending herself. She just had this fire in her, and she'd fight tooth and nail for what she thought she deserved. Wasn't that everything I aspired to be? Was that not the spirit that I needed in order to fight for what I wanted and successfully get it? Why should I place my future in the hands of anyone but my own? I had met my role model and I couldn't even believe it.

While I stood and watched in admiration and respect, another of my guards had come up to me and reported that this girl's parents and her intended groom — oh, he was so old he had no teeth left — requested that I, their Prince, make a ruling and decide if the girl in question should marry the man her parents had chosen for her, or not.

"We beseech you, Your Highness," her mother pleaded. "Make our daughter see some sense."

I eyed her parents distastefully. "It's not her that needs to see sense," I declared, glancing at the girl who had been protesting so fiercely she was panting. The fire in her was still burning, so brightly, and she stared at me not pleadingly but, rather, with trust, almost as if she knew what decision I was going to make.

"A goodly Prince would never coerce his subjects into anything against their will. Nor should parents do that to their children," I berated them. They trembled in dismay as they sensed that I was not going to rule in their favor. The girl's father looked as if he was about to protest, but ultimately decided against it.

The crowds gradually quieted down, although there were murmurs in disbelief. I knew that if this girl was to have her chance at building her own future, which she was definitely worthy of, she needed to get out of this town and rid herself of all its restrictive customs.

"My good lady," I decided to address her directly, and she better get used to that because I intuitively felt as if she would be of great help to me if I did her this favor now and lend her a helping hand that'd free her from marital enslavement. "If it pleases you, you will work in my household in Gyeongchun Palace at the royal court in Songak, until you find a husband of your own choice," I offered. Gasps arose, but I was firm.

She walked up to me, holding her head high in dignity yet bowing at me politely and gratefully. "If my Prince will have me, the honor is entirely mine to enter Your Highness' service."

Still clad in her wedding gown, I led her to my carriage and took her back to my residence. On the way, it was difficult for me to maintain a collected exterior when she was making me question a lot of my beliefs as we made conversation.

"Why did you do it anyway?" She asked boldly. "Why didn't you just leave me to suffer under my parents and my husband-to-be?"

I snorted. Her husband-to-be was twice our ages combined, but not even half as intelligent, I'd bet. "Why don't you tell me?" I tossed the question back at her. Frankly, I wasn't sure I had an answer. But maybe I'd have it in the future.

She smiled cryptically. "You helped me and gave me the chance to take back my future so I can live my own life and have the liberty to make my own decisions. Freedom is the one thing that we all yearn for, kings and peasants alike, even though sometimes freedom is just power in disguise," she explained eruditely. "To you, Wang Yo, Prince of Goryeo, I owe a big favor. So if power is what you so desire...then I will repay you by standing by you and be at your aid so you may rise to power."

I returned the smile. "See, if you were married off to an old fool...what a waste it would've been."

"Oh? And if I work at Your Highness' household as a mere maid, it wouldn't have been a waste?" She challenged.

I didn't show it, but I was stunned by her cleverness. She had outsmarted me and knew there was no way she could be a mere servant if I were to enlist her help in my plans to achieve greatness. She needed to be of a higher position and status in order to be my right hand man — right hand woman, actually. With that intelligence she could easily be a diplomat. In my eyes she was already a much better negotiator than half the officials at court.

She must have known that I had figured it out now. She didn't even have to give me further hints when she said, "I'm still in my wedding gown, you see."

"You are willing to be my concubine?" I asked. It was an offer I wanted to take, but she shouldn't go into this with her eyes closed. "I have a wife already and I need her for several reasons. I won't give up what's mine just to gain a girl." Even though the girl was smarter than any girl I'd ever met.

She smirked. "Of course you shan't give up what you already have under your belt," she declared. "And she must be from a really prestigious and powerful family. Don't even think about divorcing her," she added. "If Your Highness will have me as your concubine, it's going to make things so much easier. But...that's just our cover. Let's live as allies. You'll find that my brains will matter to you more than my sex."

"Of course," I nodded and agreed. After all, she did state that she would not hand her sexuality and autonomy over to anybody and become the erotic property of any man. "In that case, wife," I said. "I must know your name."

"Jo Sinye," she answered breezily. "Pleasure to meet you, husband."

(Pyongso Residence, Songak)

~So's POV~

There just seemed to be no way for me to get my mother to dislike me just a little less. I was both bewildered and frustrated that the extent of her abhorrence of me was actually beyond my expectation. I didn't know what else I could do about it, but lacking a mother's love was just making me feel very uneasy and worthless all in all, and very, very angry, about everything and everybody, including myself.

I had really thought that the present I had very thoughtfully prepared for her would please her. Sure, I had no way of knowing if she'd like the hairpin, or what kind of accessories she preferred, but perhaps it might have paved the way for her acceptance of me. But I knew I was a loser when I couldn't even give it to her. I faltered like a coward. On the other hand she gladly accepted the gift from my brother. Why must I be a failure? Why couldn't I have been somebody that she'd be proud of?

Speaking of, I had no clue where the hairpin had went after my catastrophic meeting with my mother and my brothers the other day. It was nowhere to be found and I had looked through every corner and drawer in my room already. Where did it go?

A/n: What do you guys think of Sinye's character? Share your thoughts with me in the reviews below! :D